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Some of 2019's most memorable games decided by blown calls

FILE- In this June 12, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube carries the Stanley Cup after the Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Los Angeles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman committed a blatant interference penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis well before the pass arrived inside the 5, forcing the Saints to settle for Wil Lutz’s 31-yard field goal.

“I got away with one,” Robey-Coleman conceded.

Jared Goff had enough time to lead the Rams down the field for Greg Zuerlein’s tying field with 15 seconds remaining.

With 1.5 seconds left and in need of some magic, Virginia got the ball to Kyle Guy in the corner. He turned and fired as Samir Doughty, hands straight up in the air, bumped into Guy’s hip. The shot was short, bouncing off the rim as Auburn started to celebrate.

Game over? Nope.

Official James Breeding called a foul on Doughty, sending Guy to the free-throw line. He calmly knocked down all three shots to give Virginia a disputed 63-62 win. Two nights later, in another overtime thriller, the Cavaliers captured their first national title by beating Texas Tech.

“We kind of thought we had it sealed,” Auburn's Bryce Brown said. "I just didn’t agree with the call.”

PAVELSKI PAYBACK

Auburn and New Orleans weren't the only teams to gripe about the officiating,

The NHL season ended for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 7 of the playoffs after a major penalty sparked the San Jose Sharks to a 5-4 overtime victory.

On a faceoff in San Jose's offensive zone with Las Vegas leading 3-0 midway through the third period, Cody Eakin cross-checked Sharks captain Joe Pavelski in the chest. Paul Stastny then bumped Pavelski as he fell to the ice, his helmet slamming down. Pavelski was knocked out and bleeding on the ice.

The officials huddled as a dazed Pavelski was helped to the locker room. They gave Eakin a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct.

Leonard's shot from the corner over Joel Embiid was the first winning buzzer-beater in a Game 7 in NBA history. The ball danced on the rim four times before dropping. It was quite a capper to Leonard's 41-point masterpiece.

The Raptors would go on to claim their first NBA title by beating the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

“It was great,” Leonard said. “It was a blessing to be able to get to that point and make that shot and feel that moment.”

Rapinoe broke a scoreless tie in the final with a second-half penalty kick, and the Americans went on to beat the Netherlands 2-0.

Rapinoe won the Golden Ball as top player and the Golden Boot as top scorer in the month-long tournament, but her impact went far beyond the field. She sparred with U.S. President Donald Trump and was one of the leading voices on a squad that loudly demanded equal pay with the men's team.

“We’re such a proud and strong and defiant group of women,” Rapinoe said.

Her trademark victory pose, looking skyward with arms outstretched, also became a worldwide sensation.

A brilliant display by the team known as the “Brave Blossoms” gave them a big halftime lead. Then they held off a furious Scottish comeback to preserve a 28-21 victory.

Japan advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time. Even though they lost to eventual champion South Africa, their tournament run was just what their battered nation needed after the ferocious storm.

BURROW BESTS TUA

Joe Burrow propelled LSU to the College Football Playoff and himself to the Heisman Trophy with a dazzling display against Tua Tagovailoa and Alabama in college football's game of the year.

Burrow passed for 393 yards and three touchdowns, answered challenge after challenge, and helped end LSU's eight-year string of futility against the Crimson Tide.